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“Our state is large and diverse, and we should have fair representation across our state,” LePage said. “Residents in Southern Maine should not be able to control the citizen initiative process.”

According to state law, 61,000 valid signatures are required to get a citizen’s initiative on the ballot, LePage said, saying the state constitution requires 10 percent of the total votes cast for governor in the last election be collected.

The governor said he has concerns about the ballot questions passed on Election Day.

“Several of the ballot questions put out to voters have serious, unintended consequences for the people of Maine,” the governor said. "Some questions are clearly unconstitutional, one will chase successful people out of Maine and another will drive the elderly deeper into poverty. Legalizing marijuana goes against federal law, and the question was so poorly drafted it will require millions of dollars and several legislative fixes before it can be implemented.”

LePage had previously told voters to vote against the ballot questions. Every ballot question passed except Question 3, which would have implemented background checks on gun sales.

“The problem is that all the signatures can come easily from one part of the state -- and it’s usually Portland and Southern Maine,” the governor said.